It’s official … Hawke’s Bay Racing Inc has formally approved moving to a new ‘greenflelds’ location, which we understand to be on Portsmouth Road.
Richard Riddell, Chairman of Hawke’s Bay Racing, wrote to HB Racing members:
“This is a very positive step towards delivering a modern, long-term home for racing in the Hawke’s Bay region. There are still a number of important details to work through, including final funding arrangements and the usual planning and consenting processes.
“Over the coming period, we will continue to work with New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR), the Government and Council partners on these next steps. Once key milestones are confirmed and a clearer timeline is available, we will be back in touch with Members to outline what happens from here.”
The existing location is slated to be developed for housing by the TW Group (Tremain), whose plan will need to go through the normal consenting process. That shouldn’t be problematic given the priority Hastings District Council wants to give to in-fill housing.
But no Horse of the Year
While racing fans will be pleased with the news, another ‘branch’ of the horse community has been set back with the announcement earlier this month that Horse of the Year, the nation’s premier equestrian event, would be cancelled for 2026 due to lack of sponsor, trade and other funding support. The event, which would have been held again at Tōmoana Showgrounds in March, costs about $2.2 million to stage.
It’s been fascinating watching the work on the race track at the racecourse – obviously it will be there for a few more years yet – so doubtful many sections will be sold for some considerable time so we’ll still have a nice green space for a while
They need to attend to clear
the drain from Southland Road through to Railway Road and further which is full of weeds etc. etc In the 22 years I have lived beside this drain, they have done absolutely nothing. It has been left to the house owners who have had enough and now it has become a future hazard re storms etc. False promises over the years to attend to this the last being in November this year. It is not good enough!
Can’t see why it should be HB Racing clearing drains
I won’t live long enough to see this if it ever happens! how will HDC convince their voters to change the land use? why would the horse racing industry want to waste $100 plus million on a racetrack, that no trainers & owners want to attend, the costs for outsiders to travel a horse to race here are horrendous, if this ever gets approval, surely a lot of heads will get rolled for a dumb stupid decision!! surely! $100 plus million for what 15 race days a year and only 2 of those days get public support.
Why not ask the questions BB about all the whispers that it’s a land swap between the racecourse and TW Group? HB Racing gets the TW land in Flaxmere and vice versa. Then you can look forward (not) to a whole lot of tacky boxes in the middle of town! Coincidence that TW were doing all the recent work at the racecourse?? I don’t think so!!